Ukip candidate described Islam as “evil cult”

Steve Latham, UKIP candidate in West Bromwich East (Tom Watson is Labour’s candidate in this constituency) has said that the Labour party was been “infiltrated by the evil cult of Islam”.

Latham made these comments on Facebook and is now being investigated by UKIP. It’s thought he could be dropped as the party’s candidate, meaning at this late stage they would be unable to stand anyone in this constituency.

Latham’s remarks on Facebook read as follows:

“So the Muslims have infiltrated the Labour party. What a surprise. Who would have guessed such a thing was possible? The Labour Party of Diane Abbott and Harriet Harman infiltrated by the evil cult of Islam. Wow.” A spokesman for UKIP said: “We will investigate it.” 

He linked to a Telegraph article from 2010, which documented Jim Fitzpatrick’s comments on the Islamic Forum of Europe. Last night, he apologised and said:

“I wouldn’t have meant it about Islam itself. It would have been about the people causing problems. It’s just the extremists. And there are extremists in all faiths. All I can do is apologise. I meant no disrespect.”

However, Labour leader of Sandwell Council Darren Cooper said:

“This is an outrageous statement to make about someone else’s religion. I call on Nigel Farage to suspend Steve Latham as a Parliamentary candidate.”